This post is a continuation of the earlier posts (Being Grandparents ,Being Grandparents – 2, Being Grandparents – 3, Being Grandparents – 4, Being Grandparents – 5, Being Grandparents -6,Being Grandparents -7, Being Grandparents -8 , Being Grandparents -9 , Being Grandparents -10, Being Grandparents -11, Being Grandparents -12, Being Grandparents -13, Grandparents -14, Grandparents -15, Grandparents -16, Grandparents -17, Grandparents -18,Grandparents -19, Grandparents -20, Grandparents -21, Grandparents -22, Grandparents -23, Grandparents -24, Grandparents -25 & Grandparents -26) as the previous posts were becoming a tad bit busy.
Saturday 30 July 2011 to Monday 1 August 2011 – this was the long weekend holidays (Civic Holiday in Canada). The kids were busy with the parents – went to Northbay one day and also to Ottawa on another day – but generally spending quality time with both the parents. Nana/nani missed them but they kept themselves busy painting the new picnic table, outdoors chairs and general upkeep of the yard.
Thursday 4 August 2011
This day kids came to Deep River (after an absence of some 10 days or more). They came with their mom and their dad joined the group in the evening.
We all celebrated Sitara’s 4th Birthday (born on 5 August 2011) as part of the family celebration but her birthday party is organised for Saturday 13 August at Mackey – with all her age friends and families – a pool party.
Note: Nana/nani will be in Toronto with the birth of Maya ( her cousin sister – her mama/mami’s baby) on Sunday 7 August 2011.
The kids played in the backyard in the afternoon – the weather was superb – warm and sunny and then Sitara helped her nani to decorate the birthday cake – with the motif of “Princess“. She was all excited (Sachin was having his afternoon nap at the time). All had dinner outdoors at the picnic table – which was painted by their nana a week before . The cake cutting & gift giving was kept indoors -after the dinner was over.
The kids behaved so well and all trouped in the house after the dinner and the birthday cake with a ‘Aeriel Princess” candle was brought in the dining room by her nani – all singing “happy Birthday Sitara “song. The candle was blown out so nicely by Sitara -Sachin watching intently and then cake was cut by Sitara – both Sitara and Sachin enjoyed the cake termendously and ate quite a lot of it – mouth stuffed with cake and just licking up. It was sight to be seen and enjoyed.After cake-cutting , the gifts were opened and enjoyed by the kids. They went home to Mackey at about 10.00 p.m.
Nana wrote a poem on Sitara’s 4th birthday – which goes like below:
Our Sitara
you are a chic classy young girl always
you have a constant stylish princess poise
your giggles and laughter cheers us ever
all above delight us forever
Our Sitara
you are a mature girl for a four year old
you are a cool girl with elegant laughter
your sharing and caring nature soothes us
all above flutter our hearts forever
Our Sitara
you are always in our life dreams
you are center of our universe ever
your love for Sachin is very comforting
all above makes you our dream girl forever
Our Sitara
you be assured of our love for you
you be assured of our support always
you be assured of our delight for you ever
Happy Birthday ! Many more to come !
Sunday 7 August 2011
This day Sitara and sachin got a new friend – thier cousin Maya was born at 2.29 pm in Toronto to their ShannonMami & SunirMama . See separate post titled “Being Grandparents (paternal)- 2 Welcome Maya ” -for details. Their nana/nani went to Toronto on Monday 8 August 2011 – to welcome & hug the new baby named – Maya .
Saturday 13 August 2011
This day there was a birthday party at Mackey for Sitara – she became 4 year old on 5 August 2011 . Nana/nani came back from Toronto on Friday 12 August – after 6th day of Maya’s (her cousin sister) birth – having celebrated her “Chhatti” – sixth day when her destiny is written (by Goddess Saraswati) as per Indian tradition and her name is proclaimed in her ears and to the world.
The day on Saturday was beautiful with excellent weather. The birthday party at Mackey was attended by Sitara’s friends and their parents – had various games and then pool party in te backyard pool. There were lots of fun, games , pool swimming and splashing etc. All had good refreshments and after that gifts & “happy Birthday” cards were open from all friends and family. Sitara got her favourite ‘Princess’ brand computer (for kids) from her nana/nani.
Thursday 25 August to Sunday 28 August 2011
The kids went with their parents to Toronto ( parents were celebrating their 7th wedding Anniversary) – on Thursday 25 August . The parents also wanted to take the kids to meet and see their new cousin sister (Maya) , daughter of their ShannonMami & SunirMama – born on Suunday 7 August 2011. What we heard from their Mami/mama ( a telecon on Sunday 28 August) istaht both kids were very happy to see Maya. Sitara cuddled her, kissed her, hugged her and held her many times when visiting Maya at her parent’s home . Sachin did that too but being only 2 years old – and overshadowed by his sister, Sitara – he was more looking and playing off – base . They returned back to home (Mackey) on Sunday 28 August 2011.
Monday 29 August & Tuesday 30 August 2011
Monday evening, Sachin was dropped at his nana/nani home for a sleep over and spending the day with them. Sitara & her dad accompany Sachin in the evening after they were picked up from their BabySitter place. The overnight stay was precipitated by the need for Nina to take Sitara to Ottawa CHIO hospital for consultation about her skin allergy.
Sachin came to stay with his nana/nani very happily and without any fuss . He was adroit and an understanding 2 year old.
He joined in the dinner (after his dad & Sitara left for Mackey) and then played with puzzles and other toys . He also watched TV ( Kids program)- though he is not a great TV watcher . He does not get fascinated by TV at this time in his life.
And he was all ready for brushing his teeth and going to potty before retiring to his crib – he was accompanied by his nani who sang a couple of lullaby to hom. He was joyous and happy before falling to sleep.
On Tuesday morning he woke up a bit late ( about 8.30 am). He seems to be catching up on his rest and sleep after a trip to Toronto last week. The whole day he played and was always very mindful to be polite and enjoying the toys and company of his nana & nani. He had great sense of memory – remembering his SunirMama (from his last visit to Toronto last week) and Maya (his new baby Cousin Sister) . He remembered/ mentioned about Maya holding his finger anda lso demonstrated as to howe May takes fingers in her mouth. When his nana gave him a purple plate (for one of his dinner dish) – he was cognisant of the fact that plate normally is for Sitara . He said that it’s Sitara’s and was happy that his nani exchanged that plate with his orange one. He remwmered Sitar a few times (politely) – without letting his nana/nani worry that he misses her.
In the evening he was waiting for his daddy to pick him up to take him home to Mackey but his dad was sick this day and had not come to town (for work) . So his nana/nani drove him to Mackey . In te car he was hppy kid – singing and observing the trucks on the road. He also noted that it had suddenly become dark outside and mentioned that “it is dark” .
Tuesday 6 September 2011
This is a special day – a milestone day for Sitara. She being 4 year old ( just celebrated her birthday -born on 5 August 2007) – She started her Kindergarten (KG) class at newly spruced up Mackenzie Community Center (earlier Mackenzie High School) in Deep River. Her mom reported that her morning session at 10.30 am went well – it was an inroduction session to the class and the class teacher – both her mom and dad also went with her to the school on this first day.
During lunch Sitara joined her nana/nani, Sachin and her mom to a lunch at the local Restaurant ( situated with the local PetroCanada Gas Station) . This lunch was the brainchild of one of the bridge (card game) players/partners (Anne from Pembroke) of her nana – when he goes to play in Petawawa — to celebrate one month birthday of Maya (Sitara’s cousin – daughter of her ShannonMami & SunirMama). Maya was born on 7 August 2011 in Toronto. There were also other bridge players ( Fran & Bernice from Deep River) who joined in the lunch to celebrate. This ocassion also became celebration of Sitara’s first day at school. This is a step up in her life . Our grandchild is growing up and fast.
In the afternoon – she was to go to school again at 3.30pm when she was tested (one on one) by her KG teacher to find out her KG academic and common knowledge strength. She did well in all areas – whatever a 4 year can be tested on. She had good forte of presence of mind, knowledge of alphabets, numbers , deductive power etc – for her age. Her mom and dad were around and Sitara exhibited confidence and her command of vocabulary and articulation. Well done – our young one.
Thursday 8 September 2011
This day Sitara had a “rite of passage” – she went in School Bus to her school in the morning.The ararangement is that her mom dropped her at herBabySitter in Deep River at about 8.00 am- she had breakfast there and then at 9.00 am she was escorted to the school bus ( this first day by her mom & the BabySitter ) -which took her then to the school. Sitara went smoothly in the bus and sat down with one of her friends and took all the experience in her stride . At the end of the school (about 3.00 pm) she again was escorted to School Bus by school teacher and then she came to her BabySitter’s home at 4.05 pm – where on the first day of her experiene – her mom and BabySitter received her at the Bus.
Sachin was looked after by his nana/nani at their home in Deep River . He was his usual self – all polite and conversationalist.
For a 2 year old- he has a great comprehension and articulation abilities. He is very social with his nana/nani and very loving too. In the morning he was taken outdoors by her nana & then joined by his mom. First they went in the backyard , and the park adjoining the Deep River home. After that by car to the Deep River Marina – where Sachin enjoyed giving bread pieces and O Cereal to the ducks in the river as well to the sea gulls. Then he spent time at the Children’s activity area – where sliding and other activities can be had by young kids. Sachin then spent time near the Lighthouse- throwing stones in the River – making ripples and sound.
Week of Friday 16 Sept to Friday 23 Sept 2011
This week kids nana/nani were out of town – first Friday/Saturday to Kingston for nana’s engineering meeting and then from there to Toronto – visiting Maya & her parents. Also this Friday ( 16 Sept 2011) kids’ mom went to Niagara Falls to attend a Business meeting – organised by her company. She was gone three days returning on Sunday back -so the kids were looked after by their dad -all by himself.
Sitara has been enjoying going to the KG since she started on Tuesday 6 Sept 2011. The routine was to have her dropped off to her baby-sitter’s (Jeannett) place in the morning – from where she takes the bus to school . She returns by bus at about late in the afternoon -there being picked up by her baby-sitter and then spends her time at her baby-sitter till she ( and Sachin – the days he is at the baby-sitter) is picked by her dad ( after his office work) and then goes home. On Tuesdays and Thursdays – Sachin do not go to the baby-sitter and is with his mom ( who is off work these days). Sitara gets picked up from baby-sitter on Tuesdays and Thursdays if her mom comes to town ( Deep River) .
On Friday 23 September 2011, nana/nani returned from Toronto and stopped over at Mackey . They played with Sachin who was home with his mom ( alternate Fridays his mom is off work) . Sitara came home with her dad after her KG . All had dinner together but – before dinner Sitara coaxed/ politely demanded her nana to read her some story bhooks (in fact a total of 7 books) . This was very much enjoyed by both and by a visitor (Sachin) to her room . After dinner, and some playtime – nana/nani said adiuos to kids and then proceeded to go to Deep River .
Pravin Shah